The Supreme Court has issued an order for the release of NewsClick founder and editor-in-chief, Prabir Purkayastha, on bail following his arrest in connection with a case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Purkayastha was accused of promoting Chinese propaganda, but the court found his custody illegal due to the Delhi Police’s failure to provide him with a copy of the remand application.
A bench consisting of Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta ruled that Purkayastha’s remand was invalid because of the non-furnishing of the remand application to him. However, since the chargesheet has already been filed, the Supreme Court opted to grant him bail.
In its decision, the apex court declared that the arrest and subsequent remand order of Prabir Purkayastha were deemed invalid in the eyes of the law. The case against him stemmed from allegations in an FIR that he conspired to undermine the democratic process during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections alongside the People’s Alliance for Democracy and Secularism (PADS).
The FIR further alleged that Purkayastha’s news portal received substantial funds from China with the intent to disrupt India’s sovereignty and foment disaffection against the country. These allegations have garnered significant attention, sparking debates about freedom of speech, media independence, and foreign influence in domestic affairs.
With Purkayastha bail, the judicial saga is far from over. Discussions about the details of the accusations and their wider ramifications for press freedom and national security will probably go on.
